Three more arrests made in Elveden corruption probe

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Detectives investigating alleged illegal payments to public officials by journalists arrested another three people this morning including a former member of the armed forces.

The latest arrests have come about as a result of information handed over to police by News Corp.

The arrests were made at approximately 6am this morning by officers from the Met’s Operation Elveden, the investigation into allegations of illegal payments to police and public officials.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at his home in Kent on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and on suspicion of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office, contrary to common law.

The Met said he was currently being questioned at a police station in Kent.

A 42-year-old man and 38-year-old woman were arrested at their home address in Lancashire.

The man, a former member of the armed forces, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and the woman on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office.

The pair are being questioned at a police station in Lancashire. The addresses of all three are being searched by officers.

The Met said: ‘Today’s operation is the result of information provided to police by News Corporation‘s Management Standards Committee.

‘It relates to suspected payments to a public official and is not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately.”

A total of 26 people have now been arrested since last July as part of the inquiry, which is linked to the Metropolitan Police’s continuing phone-hacking investigation.